Despite securing all three points, Real Madrid’s performance left many questioning the fairness of the result, especially with Sociedad’s dominant display.
Real Sociedad hit the woodwork three times, showcasing their superiority in much of the match. However, Los Blancos managed to escape with a win thanks to two penalties, one converted by Vinicius Junior and another by Kylian Mbappe.
Ancelotti acknowledged his team’s struggles, saying, “It was a difficult game and we probably didn’t deserve to win because Real Sociedad played very well, but we held on, we suffered, and we were committed. The sacrifice of a team with so much quality is not always found, and today we found it.”
While the first penalty, awarded for a clear handball, was not contested, the second decision sparked outrage from Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil. Vinicius was brought down after delivering a cross, leading to a VAR review that resulted in the second penalty.
Alguacil voiced his frustration: “For me, there was only one penalty. It’s a shame, if we are going to call those penalties, we are ruining real football. I don’t like it. And if they show us those cards, which for me weren’t cards… If we want everyone to enjoy this football, I think some things have to change.”
Ancelotti, however, refrained from diving into the controversy, stating, “I haven’t seen it because I’ve only seen the image, but when the referee goes to the VAR, he does much better and he hasn’t hesitated to blow the whistle.”